Here are our previews for all five football championship matches taking place across the country this weekend.

Saturday, July 2^nd

Ulster SFC semi-final replay

Donegal v Monaghan, Breffni Park, 7pm

Odhran MacNiallais 56th minute goal looked to have sent the Tir Chonaill men on the road to victory last Saturday evening but Conor McManus's eight point, which arrived deep in stoppage time, sent the semi-final to a replay.

It finished Donegal 1-11, Monaghan 0-14 as the Anglo Celt Cup holders got out of jail and Malachy O'Rourke's men will be determined to make the most of their second bite at the cherry.

"Well, when you're two points down going into injury-time, you always are on the back-foot a wee bit.

"In fairness, knowing the boys and having seen them before when we've been in them positions, they never give in," the Farney boss remarked shortly after the final whistle.

Expect another close encounter in what will be the fifth Ulster championship clash between the counties in four seasons. Monaghan have won two to Donegal's one, with one draw from the previous four.

Donegal are bidding to reach the Ulster final for the sixth successive year while the Farney County are seeking a fourth successive appearance.

The winners play Tyrone/Cavan in the Ulster final on July 17; the losers play Longford in the All-Ireland qualifiers on July 9.

Verdict: Monaghan

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 1A re-fixture

Laois v Armagh, O'Moore Park, 3pm

Laois were left with egg on their face after a substitute mix-up rendered their 1-10 to 0-10 victory last Saturday week null and void.

The O'Moore County retain home advantage for the re-fixture while influential midfielder John O'Loughlin is available after serving a one match suspension.

Armagh, on the other hand, will be forced to line out minus the services of captain Kieran McKeever who suffered a broken foot on club duty while their are also question marks over the availability of other members of Kieran McGeeney's squad.

The Orchard County boss will be hoping his forwards bring their shooting boots this time around.

The winners will advance to play Clare in Round 2A in Ennis on July 9 while it will be curtains for the losers.

Verdict: Laois

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 2A

Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 6pm

"Home advantage is massive for us. We didn't really mind who we got so long as we were at home so that is great."

That was Sligo manager's Niall Carew reaction to the Round 2A draw.

Carew's Leitrim counterpart Shane Ward and his players will also approach the Connacht derby in a confident frame of mind following their 0-12 to 0-8 success over Waterford in Carrick-on-Shannon.

"You can't underestimate the confidence the win will give them boys," Ward remarked.

Roscommon beat Leitrim by 13 points and Sligo by 9 points in this year's Connacht championship.

The winners will progress to Round 3 of the qualifiers; the losers are finished for the season.

Verdict: Sligo

Sunday, July 3rd

Munster SFC final

Kerry v Tipperary, Fitzgerald Stadium, 2pm - RTE

Kerry and Tipperary meet in the Munster final for the first time since 1998 when Kerry, the then reigning All-Ireland champions, won by 0-17 to 1-10 in Thurles.

Maurice Fitzgerald scored 0-10 for Kerry while Declan Browne responded with 0-7 for Tipperary.

Prior to that, Kerry and Tipperary hadn't met in the Munster final since 1944.

While Munster finals between the counties are a novelty, it has been a busy rivalry in earlier stages of the provincial championship - this will be the sixth clash between them since 2010.

The Kingdom prevailed on a scoreline of 2-14 to 2-8 at the penultimate stage 12 months ago thanks to goals from Paul Geaney and Barry John Keane.

Michael Quinlivan escaped the close attention of the Kerry defence to raise two green flags on that occasion and he will take watching against this weekend.

The Premier County's surprise 3-15 to 2-16 semi-final victory over Cork underlines the progress being made in the county but in the words of manager Liam Kearns: "These boys have got to a Munster Final ahead of time."

Don't think for one moment, however, that Eamonn Fitzmaurice will take their final opponents for granted.

The Kingdom supremo has been impressed with what he has seen so far from Tipp: "I think that Tipperary, looking at it from the outside, they look to be very close knit, to have a serious spirit."

The winners qualify for the All-Ireland quarter-final on July 30/31; the losers enter Round 4A of the All-Ireland qualifiers on July 23.

Verdict: Kerry

Ulster SFC semi-final replay

Tyrone v Cavan, Clones, 4pm

The two teams return to Clones for a second time in two weeks to decide who reaches the final against Donegal or Monaghan.

The Red Hands are bidding to reach the Ulster final for the first time since 2010 while Cavan's last appearance in the decider was in 2001.

A late goal by David Givney earned the Breffni County a replay last Sunday week as it finished Cavan 3-7, Tyrone 0-16.

The concession of three goals the first day has given Mickey Harte plenty of food for thought in advance of the replay.

"We could not get really comfortable and we know that Cavan will come at us strongly again this weekend.

"What was particularly worrying was that we had conceded two goals before half time. That was very disappointing."

Cavan are seeking their first Ulster championship win over Tyrone since 1983.

The winners play Donegal or Monaghan in the Ulster final on July 17; the losers play Carlow in the All-Ireland qualifiers on July 9.

Verdict: Tyrone

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